Is Melaleuca a Scam? – The Truth Revealed!!!
Name: Melaleuca
Website: www.melaleuca.com
Founder: Frank L. VanderSloot
Price: $29 + $19.90/year + Products
Income Opportunity rating: 2.5 / 5 Stars
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So, you’ve been introduced to Melaleuca by a friend or a family member (or maybe from social media), and you wanted to know if the Melaleuca’s products are good and if the home based business opportunity is legitimate.
You’ve come to the right place because I am going to share with you everything you need to know in order to make an informed decision.
Every health and wellness company in the market will claim that their products are the most unique, marketable, and are made from natural ingredients. Could Melaleuca be any different? Can Melaleuca products sell for itself?
These are the questions that I will answer in this review.
But, before we dive into the details, here’s an overview of my findings.
In general, Melaleuca is not a scam, it is a legitimate Multilevel Marketing Company, and it offers a legitimate opportunity, however, the chances of success in this opportunity are very slim, and there are a lot of factors that can cause a distributor to fail.
I’ll share more about the causes of failure and how you can avoid them later in this review.
Now, let us first understand what this company is all about.
What is Melaleuca?
Melaleuca has been around since 1985, and it is one of the longest standing Multilevel Marketing (MLM) Company, like Amway.
Melaleuca has over 400 products that serve the Nutrition, Personal Care, Home Cleaning, and the Cosmetics niches. Its mission is to help improve your health and at the same time protect the environment.
If you are one who likes to use pure natural products (that protects the environment and your family) for home cleaning purposes, and you like to improve your general well being, I am sure you will be interested in this.
The fact that Melaleuca has so many products, proofs that the company is continually growing, however, at the same time, it feels overwhelming for consumers as they may not know which products are most suitable for them.
In this situation, it really depends on the person who introduced and promotes the Melaleuca’s products to you.
There are distributors who genuinely have your interest in mind and who wants to help, but there are also greedy distributors who will only promote products that benefits them the most financially.
In general, you should only buy products that you need, and not what the distributor claims that you need.
On top of distributing natural based products, Melaleuca also provides a business opportunity that entices people who seek to work from home.
While the compensation plan of the opportunity is rather enticing, the unfortunate truth is that there is only a minute group of people who will benefit from the compensation plan.
There are more failures than successes, and we will discuss the reasons below.
Can you Make Money with Melaleuca?
If you are interested in the home based business opportunity that Melaleuca offer, then the first question you have to ask yourself is if you have personally benefited from the products.
There is really no point in promoting the products if you do not feel that you’ve benefited from it.
I mean, how can you convince others to buy the products when you have not convinced yourself? It is not a good practice and definitely not ethical.
If you are only in for the money, my advice is not to join this opportunity because you will fail miserably.
So, with that being said, if you genuinely like to share the Melaleuca’s products because you’ve benefited from them, then here’s what you need to know.
Being with Melaleuca, you are generally a sales representative of the company. These are the characteristics of the people who are suitable to be in this business opportunity:
- People who already have a group of followers who will buy what they sell
- People who are good at selling
- People who have sheer determination to succeed
- People who are uncomfortable in selling, but wishes to step out of their comfort zone
Let me know if there are any other characteristics that should be in this list.
Well, the first 2 groups may already have some success in their lives, and they represent a minute group of people who are poised for success with the company.
The last 2 groups are people like you and me who have absolutely no experience in sales but want to succeed in life.
The unfortunate truth is that more than 90% of the people in the last 2 groups will most likely fail due to the following circumstances:
Pitfall 1: Lack of Leadership
The worst thing that could happen when you join a business opportunity, or any company, is to be led by people who either do not have a clue about what they are supposed to do, or people who could care less about your success.
What I mean is that when you join Melaleuca, you should expect to be coached and be guided by a successful Melaleuca distributor. But, most of the time, you will be coached by someone who have either joined the business recently, or are still in the learning process.
Unless you are poached by a successful distributor who wants to coach you personally, I wouldn’t recommend that you join just anyone in Melaleuca. Why? Just check out these comments.
These are the experiences that you will face if you’ve encountered a bad sales representative.
At the same time, there are many positive reviews from people who’ve encountered a good sales rep.
So, you really have to be careful who you join.
Pitfall 2: Lack of Leads
In order to be successful in any kind of business, it has to have a good pipeline of prospective customers. When the business runs dry on new customers, it dies.
This happens to many distributors of Melaleuca.
When you first join the business, if you are taught to only source for prospects from your social circle, you know it’s time to leave the business. Why? Because, soon enough, you will run dry of prospects and you will eventually quit the business.
In this day and age, there are so many choices for us (be it products or business opportunities), and people will not trust you as much when you are pitching your product (even if you are a close friend or relative), they trust the internet.
It is unlike the 19th century where you are barred to limited resources or knowledge, and you trust whomever you are close to.
Nowadays, if you do not know how to source for prospects from the Internet, your chances of success are extremely slim.
Pitfall 3: The Wrong Attitude
People whom I know are successful in the business like Melaleuca are people with sheer determination to succeed (even if they are facing adversity).
It is a common trait for people who start blaming their leaders or colleagues when things didn’t turn out the way they’ve expected it to be.
People who are successful will go all out to learn and acquire new skills and strengthen their mindset even if they are lead by bad leaders or they’ve faced thousands of rejections.
These are the 3 main pitfalls of the business opportunity, if you have more to share, please, feel free to leave a comment at the end of this review.
In general, you can make money with Melaleuca, but the road to success is extremely tough, are you ready for it?
A better way to make money from home without face-to-face selling. Click to find out how!
What’s so Special about the Melaleuca’s Products?
In my opinion, the Melaleuca thrive in the Home Cleaning niche because there are very little variety of home cleaning products that actually cares for the environment.
The cleaning products that you get off the shelf are packed with chemicals that may be damaging to the environment and to your health.
So, the unique selling point of Melaleuca is its cleaning products.
In terms of the other niches like the Nutrition, Personal Care, and Cosmetics, I personally feel that the market is saturated with so many brands competing for the consumers’ attention.
Typically, every brand in the market has the same marketing message “Our products are produced with the most natural ingredient and it will change your life”. Well, I exaggerated a little, but in general, it is what they mean.
What about Melaleuca? Are the products superior to its competitors?
Honestly, I do not have a direct answer. I’ve seen strong opinions on the Melaleuca’s products from either side. Some claim that the products are amazing and have changed their lives, while some claimed that they feel no difference as compared to using products they’ve bought off the shelf.
So, who can you trust?
My answer is “YOURSELF”!
You see, you wouldn’t really know if a product works unless you’ve tried it yourself. Each of us reacts differently to the same product.
If you are tired of the products (be it nutritional, personal care or cosmetics products) that you’ve been using, or you are still trying to find the most suitable product, I think you should give Melaleuca a try.
The Melaleuca’s Compensation Plan
My Sincere Advice to You
If you are serious about sharing the Melaleuca’s products and making money from it, the most logical and ethical basis is for you to continually benefit from its products.
How can you convince others to trust you, when you can’t convince yourself, right?
You must also be ready to face adversity in order to achieve success. Like I’ve shared above, there are many reasons that could cause a Melaleuca distributor to fail, and not many people actually succeeded in the business.
So, what if the Melaleuca’s business opportunity is not for you, but you would still like to learn how to make money from home?
I would highly suggest that you check out this program because it is the main reason for many people to achieve success online, including myself.
Thank you reading this review!
If you find this review helpful, please, help to share by clicking on the social media buttons, and if you would like to discuss more about Melaleuca, please leave your comment below.
Your pal,
Jack
Thank you Alice for explaining it so well.
I read through some of the “bad” reviews and see that they were not given the Melaleuca true experience.
I have been a customer for over two years and love the company through and through.
To those that have had the bad experiences, I am sorry that they are missing out on the products that have helped me and my family and friends, as well as missing out on doing business with a great direct manufacturer to consumer company.
Perhaps you would consider making a decision to do as one of the other people mentioned, go visit, talk to the people that care and perhaps even try it out for yourself.
I am sure after you do, you will rewrite your review.
There is never a risk involved with Melaleuca.
Respectfully,
Michelle L.
I have been in the Housecleaning Bus. since 1981 in California. I was raised in Southern Germany. All I can say is – I give Melaleuca 5 stars and if I could I would give this Co unlimited stars. I do not make $ – I never sold their products and that is my fault. Without their cleaning products I would be long ago out of Business !!! I cannot touch cleaning products sold in stores any longer – they kill you. A medical Dr. told me years ago that the average time to do cleaning for a living is 10 years. And he was so right. I have no skin problems, nasal problems, eye problems – you name it.
Also their lotions are by far better and cheaper. And so are the rest of their products. You do not have to like all of them – I do not – but in fairness – I would not like to live without their products.
I changed the cleaning products and many personal care items our family uses to Melaleuca this past July. They work and smell nice but most importantly, I have noticed that I no longer wheeze and cough when I clean. I have recommended this online shopping service to friends and many have joined and also like what Melaleuca has to offer. I have had 2 family members cancel their membership because they decided online shopping was not for them. Cancelling was absolutely NOT hard (like anything else, you must follow their procedure) and customer service has been very good and exceptionally polite. I feel very comfortable recommending this company and its products. I have been reading some of these websites and it seems like you use other companies to sell what you are trying to sell. Interesting.
Thanks for sharing your positive experience here Jill.
Cheers!
~Jack (BareNakedScam)
A friend introduced me to Melaleuca and their products. I bought the largest sample pack to see for myself what products I would like. It’s been 2 years since I purchase the membership. I love almost all their products because they are natural and they work. I care about the environment and my families health.. More importantly I don’t find the products crazy expensive. Some of the products are actually cheaper than store brands. I love MelaMagic, Tub & Tile, SoluMel & their laundry detergent/fabric softener. Excellent stain removers that get ride of stubborn stain and odours. Love their vitamins, bars of soap last long, excellent shampoo/conditioner, body lotion, tooth paste, gum.
I have a back up order of my favourite items so in case I forget to order, they get automatically shipped.
It was explained to me that the company manufactures according to what is ordered each month. They don’t raise their prices because they know how much will be ordered. They buy raw materials in bulk, manufacture the products, then pass the savings on to us, the consumer. I did not sign up to sell memberships, I signed up because I wanted to try natural products. I shop from home when I want and my order gets delivered to my door. No wasting my gas, traffic jams, fighting for parking, long cashier line ups, wasting my valuable time shopping. You need to put a price tag on your time. Their products are concentrated so you mix with water. One bottle of Tub and Tile makes 6 bottles and works better than CLR and I can breathe the air without worrying I’m damaging my lungs or skin…..and the best part it costs less than $2 CAD per bottle. All my cleaning products are Melaleuca. One capful of MelaMagic in a pail of water and my floors are squeaky clean. If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself. I love their protein powders. It is easy to shop and fulfill the 35 monthly point requirement. We are a family of three. I spend on average $100 per month. I buy what we normally would at Costco using my membership there to save so for me it’s no different, just less hassle of going out to do it.
I joined this company last year and I do agree with what you say. I had to figure out which product I would benefit from. Selling isn’t for everyone. I don’t plan to leave the company because I do like some of their products. I did find some that have helped me with struggles of my illnesses I have so it is a plus for me but there are some reps (not all) that are very pushy. I’m not a pushy person so I just stay on as a customer. What good am I if I stress out on trying to make a sale when in fact if you stress out that can cause you more health issues. Thank you for the info, it gives me a peaceful mindset, that selling is not for everyone.
J.L.,
Remember, you don’t have to sell. Share what you love about these products. Like you would share a great movie you have seen or a great experience you had at a car repair shop. You don’t have to sell Melaleuca products. You don’t even have to tell anyone about them if you don’t want to. That’s fine too.
But if like me, you want to earn an income sharing these great products, then I’d align myself with a good mentor/Team and learn how to build this business correctly.
I’m a new customer. Thanks for the reviews. It’s good to know what people are going to find out about the company from the view of others. But if you never use the product then you should not try to to promote it.
You keep saying that that it’s a MIM. Because of the compensation plan. So I take it most business are all MIM too. Like your local bank and your local Walmart or Target. Because those who do work get more money than others. There are many business that doesn’t teach you the sale plans. But there are video on the website and there are webinar. There are books and everything you need to get started. But there is one thing you will need to do. READ , and that’s the reason many don’t make it because of lack of knowledge.
If you want to succeed in life you will need to READ. including the fine print. I love the products. Peak Performance are the best supplement on the market. I’ve lost 20lbs in 5months . A1C went down. I have more energy than ever before. I am a satisfied customer.
Melaleuca Doesn’t have Distributors btw its a manufacturing company just like Johnson and Johnson except without the lawsuits for hurting people. Hands Down Best Company I have Ever Shopped at who actually cares about my health. Best Customer Service EVER! They always pick up on second ring try calling Tide And see if you can reach someone.
Definitely Recommend ! Also Not A MLM so not sure why its in your MLM reviews.
Hi Jennifer,
Melaleuca is an MLM company. Just read the income disclosure.
Anyway, thank you for your valuable input.
Cheers!
~Jack (BareNakedScam)
The company is in Idaho Falls and they are not listed as an MLM. We do not have distributors and we do not sell product. We introduce people to our online shopping club and they make their own decision to shop or not!
Hi Joann,
I know Melaleuca is trying to draw the line and distance themselves as a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Company.
https://cdnus.melaleuca.com/PDF/BusinessCenter/enus/what-makes-melaleuca-different-enus.pdf
However, based on the compensation plan, the company is in fact a Multi-Level Marketing Company, no matter how they distance themselves, unless they switch to a compensation plan like Advocare, previously an MLM and now a direct selling company.
Here’s the definition of MLM.
Cheers!
~Jack (BareNakedScam)
Hey Jack! Just wondering if Juanita ever got help with her carpet stain/odor problem?
Very balanced review, btw.
Hi ! Jack ,weather they want to admit it or not (they are distributors) I went to a meeting with a friend and yes they wanted to sign me up for a dollar. What I was told was that I did not have to sell, because I used them on a daily base most of the products they sold. So I would be a costumer and if I wanted to make a few bucks I would promote/sell the items to family/friends. To me at this point I become a distributor no longer just a costumer. I buy the shakes from my friend because they are good. A friend ask me to look into the lose weight products . I was wondering if you had any information on them . Ask my friend? She was never trained nor does she know. I asked her . All she said was that she really does not know ‘but they are good . LOL I find it funny that they sell you out on a product but do not explain or train you. Yes you are right in what you said. She gets charged every month weather she sells or not .Products are send to her house (the most frequent that she orders in the past) . That to me is not right. She called to cancel and found out they took her subscription early for another year. This is not right . So even if their products are good this is not right. Seems like a cult you join and it’s hard to get out. If you can give me information on the weight products another friend wants to know. I would deeply appreciate it. If they only change the way they do business and not force themselves on this poor people. Than it would be a very great company.
I’m not sure who you are talking to but first of all we are not supposed to sell these products. You can only purchase if you are a member. At that time you get a website at no cost and all the information is there for you to learn about the products. I’ve had members cancel and all they have to do is call the company and put their account on hold and they will not receive a shipment.
What does it mean to be a distributor?
An entity that buys noncompeting products or product lines, warehouses them, and resells them to retailers or direct to the end users or customers. Most distributors provide strong manpower and cash support to the supplier or manufacturer’s promotional efforts….so no we are not distributors …
They are not an mlm. There are no distributors selling any products. If you enjoy shopping directly from a manufacturer for everyday products you’re already buying elsewhere while saving your health, money, time & the environment, then be open to trying their store. They give you 90 days to do this risk-free. There’s no contract & cancelling your preferred member benefits is easy (if you want to go back to buying overpriced, never-fresh, toxic products that will harm your family & the environment, that’s your choice). I’ve been shopping for almost 15 years & prices have hardly gone up, if at all. It’s a no-brainer for me, but not everyone thinks like me. Some people just don’t care to be open minded & have different priorities in their life.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience here Mary!
However, you are wrong about them not being an MLM Company, they operate exactly like one. Just check out their Income Disclosure and you’ll know.
Cheers!
~Jack (BareNakedScam)
I have only had good experience with this company and it’s products. But there is little truth to some of the stories here. First of all, there are no distributors. Only customers. However you can enroll other customers and make a commission on their purchases. There is no financial reqirement, but there is a point requirement. I have spent as little as $40. If you want to do the business, You don’t sell products and actually, I believe it is agaisnt their policy to do so. You are not a distributor as there are no distributors of Melaleuca products. They manufacture and sell their products…period., If you want to be in business, you enroll other customers. You can cancell at any time, and all you do is write a letter saying you want to cancell. In 6 years I’ve found nothing nefarious or evil in either buying , using, or getting people to try their products by enrolling as a customer. It doesn’t operate the same as an MLM, but you do receive benefits and commissions from thosre you enroll. You are simply purchasing superior products from melaleuca instead of other stores.
I’ve been a customer for 6 years. I’ve enrolled a few friends over the years, I don’t like ALL of the products , but LOVE most of them. It IS a good company. It’s either for ya or not…it’s that simple.
Hi DDavis,
In short, this is a network marketing business, although they did not explicitly say that you are a distributor, you basically are. It is quite common in the industry, and as long as you are “promoting” or sharing the products for the company, and you benefit from it, you are regarded as a distributor (in general term). You can be considered a brand associate, a business partner, a business associate, or whatever they name it, but fundamentally, you are a distributor of the company. Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience here. It is great to see a happy customer.
Cheers!
~Jack (BareNakedScam)
One more characteristic of a person that would choose to be a marketing director of Melaleuca that I would add to your list is a helper. I want to help people make better choices about their health, home and our environment. I know personally, I was helped by many of the products. I am not going to buy something that doesn’t work or I don’t like. Also, I didn’t share the information until my dental hygienist, a third party, comment that my gums were “text book perfect” before she even knew I was using their tooth polish. After that, I continued to try more and more products that helped me, so I couldn’t keep my mouth shut about the products. I was self taught as my direct referrer knew less than I did. However, I reached out to our organization and have a wonderful mentor who has been shopping with Melaleuca for 30 years. I am a lifer with Melaleuca. You are going to buy shampoo and conditioner somewhere. Melaleuca beats Walmart and Target for sure.
Thanks for sharing this Cindy! I am sure your experience will help prospective customers decide.
As for the marketing training, I thought it would be beneficial to you if you learn more about the Attraction Marketing Formula. This will help automate your sales process and get highly targeted leads to contact you, rather than the other way around. This will allow you to focus on what really matters for your business.
I am sure your mentor is doing an amazing job coaching you, but I wanted to open you up to more possibilities to help you grow your business online.
Once again, thank you so much for sharing your Melaleuca experience!
Cheers!
~Jack (BareNakedScam)
The only thing I have been searching for, reading reviews on and asking questions is this….I rent, I have 3 dogs. The people who lived here before also had a couple of dogs. The end result is old stains which my dogs want to mark of course. Land lord will not replace carpet or put in laminate wood floors, so all I want is a proven stain / odor remover. I have tried several , even professional. Don’t work.
Hey Juanita,
Thank you for your comment! This looks like a real problem to be solved by a Melaleuca distributor.
Let’s see if any distributor can respond to this message, and I connect you both.
Cheers!
~Jack (BareNakedScam)
I’ve been reading through the reviews on many companies and since I am a customer of Melaleuca and know many that refer for them I found this quite interesting – in the fact that when you read the reviews from “customers” you can totally see that they were not explained the company properly (or weren’t listening at all). It’s just like shopping from Walmart, Honest Company, Safeway, etc. I paid a membership fee, like Costco, so I can get a better rate as you are purchasing as a group (think of a Co-op – if you understand how they work). I get a better quality product that I would pay more for from anywhere else and I receive other benefits such as rebates from companies such as Walmart, Home Depot, Aeropostal, etc. (they’ve teamed up with over 600 stores to offer members these discounts). Some people choose to purchase from Amazon, I choose to shop from Melaleuca as I know where the products are being produced (not shipped in from China or overseas). You can also visit their head office and distribution center in Idaho Falls, Idaho if you’d like to check it out (I did earlier this year).
MLM? No, not by the MLM standards. The people who promote and refer for them do not carry inventory, sell products, or have quotas, etc. They are part of the Direct Sellers Association (I believe Frank or their CEO sits on the board). From what I have heard, they are actually fighting many practices of MLM companies as they do not feel people wanting to work from home need to invest/lose huge amounts of money in order to earn (no closets full of unused/bought products with them). You buy what you use and need every month and that’s it! The people who work with them, promote the company philosophy and help others open a shopping account. I think of them like the person at the Costco counter that gets you your Costco membership card!
Yes, I purchase from them monthly, but you can’t tell me you don’t shop from a store once a month! I just got my order with laundry soap, detergent, dishwasher, my protein bars and toilet cleaner – I also went and got groceries at the store, but only purchased fresh fruit and produce. My monthly budget hasn’t changed, just the store I get stuff from.
Have you ever did a google review check on your bank? Cell phone provider? Supermarket? Would be interested to see if you’d continue to utilize them if you did! Don’t believe everything you read – keep an open mind, try things for yourself and educate yourself directly.
Yes, there are some scam businesses out there, but there are some great one’s too that get lost in the muck.
Thanks!
NOTE: My family and myself are healthier for the change as well!
Hi Alice,
Thank you so much for leaving your comment here!
This really explains how Melaleuca works, and I do agree with you that they are not the typical MLM company that focus on recruitment.
Their products really help, and I can even find their products on stores as well.
My wife uses the Holista Vitamin E oil for scratch marks, and it does help! I didn’t know it was from Melaleuca until I read the label on the box.
I do believe that this is a good company, and I am glad that Melaleuca has helped improve the well being of your family.
Thanks for sharing once again!
Cheers!
~Jack (BareNakedScam)
your review was somewhat accurate. First we are NOT distributors or sales people. We are however people who have switched stores and buy all our products at Melaleuca.com on a monthly as needed basis. My business is thriving, I help people by introducing them to melaleucas
high quality affordable productline and show them the lucrative specifics of doing the same thing i do. Simply sharing their experiences. I dont spend anymore $$ now than I did shopping at walmart, Target or the grocery stores, as a matter of fact I spend less and everything is shipped to my front door. I started my business for $1 and am not required to buy any training or paperwork ever. My enroller as well as many other people have helped me learn and gain the knowledge to effectively share this great company with others. As a result I have helped many friends, family and a couple of complete strangers improve their Health, environment, and quality of life. I love what I do and I love this reputable company. They are exactly what they say they are, no risk involved to try all this for yourself.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the company Jodi!
Cheers!
~Jack (BareNakedScam)
Thanks for the review, I was think about joining and this makes more sense to me. I just had someone approach me on this MLM and told me that I can join for 1 dollar, and I can sign others for the same price, however, I was told that I have to keep buying products every month and I personally don’t want to spend money until I make money. Good review.
Hi Helen,
Thanks for sharing your views!
Like I’ve mentioned in the review, you need to have passion about the product in order to promote it. If you don’t use the product on a daily basis, there’s really no point promoting it.
Cheers!
~Jack (BareNakedScam)
THE WORST WHAT I SAW IN MY LIFE !!!
BIG LIERS !!!